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Howard Blas

Howard Blas

Howard Blas is a social worker and special-education teacher by training. He teaches Jewish studies and prepares students with a range of disabilities for b’nai mitzvah. He regularly leads Birthright Israel “classic” and service trips for people with disabilities. His publications can be viewed here.

Members of the Purple Vest Mission team take shelter during a siren in a shelter in Kfar Saba, March 2026. Credit: Access Israel.
Features
Support ramps up for disabled and elderly Israelis facing missile threats
Home Front Command and “purple” initiatives help vulnerable populations access shelters, information and essential services.
Mar. 19, 2026
Howard Blas
A view of the destruction in Dr. Amir Shahar's home in Tel Aviv, March 2026. Credit: Clalit Yoseftal Medical Center.
Israel News
Healing others while their own homes are hit by Iranian missiles
Mar. 16, 2026
Howard Blas
Masa fellows pose for a photograph at the Dead Sea, March 6, 2026. Credit: Masa.
Features
Masa fellows volunteer and recharge while war pauses programs
Mar. 11, 2026
Howard Blas
Mendy Zeiger. Photo by Lenny Groysman.
Features
The road to wellness rolls along with Bike4Chai and Tour de Simcha
“Without Chai Lifeline and everything they’ve done for me and my family, I don’t know how I would’ve pulled through,” says cancer survivor Pessy Zeiger, 19, of Monsey, N.Y., who plans to bike the 65- to 70-mile route starting and ending off at Camp Simcha, which she refers to as “the happiest place on earth!”
Jul. 26, 2021
Howard Blas
Omri Casspi playing in the EuroBasket 2015 between Israel and Estonia. Credit: DarioZg/Shutterstock.
Features
His basketball chapter may be over, but Omri Casspi’s next story has yet to be written
In addition to his ability to roll with the punches through numerous trades in his NBA career—the first for an Israeli—Casspi will be remembered as a goodwill ambassador for Jewish causes.
Jul. 22, 2021
Howard Blas
Cyclists with Team Israel Start-Up Nation posing on the Champs-Élysées, July 2021. Credit: Courtesy.
Israel News
‘Allez, allez!’ Shouts of enthusiasm, encouragement as Israelis tackle Tour de France
The famed race, which each year covers 3,413 kilometers (2,121 miles) over 21 stages in 23 days, featured eight riders wearing the Israel Start-Up Nation jersey.
Jul. 20, 2021
Howard Blas
Olympic symbol logo at Japan New National Stadium in Shinjuku. Credit: Urbanscape/Shutterstock.
Antisemitism
‘Follow Team Israel’: Headed for Tokyo, hoping for glory
“It is just good news after good news; who wouldn’t want that, especially in times like this?” according to David Wiseman and Shari Wright-Pilo, who created a Facebook page to chart the journey of Israeli Olympic athletes and their designated sport.
Jul. 19, 2021
Howard Blas
Team Israel played against the FDNY (Fire Department of New York) in Brooklyn, N.Y., before embarking on a series of exhibition games on the East Coast that will see them fly to Tokyo to compete in the Summer Olympic Games, July 11, 2021. Photo by Howard Blas.
Culture and Society
Back to baseball in Brooklyn and on to Tokyo for Team Israel
“The experience for these players, especially American Jews who made aliyah, has been incredibly enriching,” says David Wanger, father of pitcher Ben Wanger. “They are so much more attuned to their heritage, and they feel incredibly connected to Israel and to the Jewish people.”
Jul. 13, 2021
Howard Blas
Legion’s mission is to train and equip civilians with the skills needed to defend themselves and their families. Credit: Courtesy.
Features
With attacks on Jews increasing, the need for self-defense is real
The Legion program aims to train and equip civilians with the necessary skills to defend themselves and their families.
Jul. 1, 2021
Howard Blas
Cyclists from Team Israel Start-Up Nation competing in the Tour de France. Credit: Team Israel Start-Up Nation/Twitter.
Israel News
Tour de France’s Israeli team tested by crashes, maintains optimism
On Tuesday, on the 150 flat kilometers (93 miles) from Redon to Fougeres, Israel Start-Up Nation was blessed with its first top 10 result in this year’s Tour de France.
Jun. 30, 2021
Howard Blas
Nefesh Mountain duo Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff. Credit: Courtesy.
Features
Fusing bluegrass with Judaism, Nefesh Mountain seeks to uplift during challenging times
They have performed in hundreds of synagogues in the United States and around the world, representing Jewish American culture, tradition, values and spirituality in the world of Americana roots music.
Jun. 10, 2021
Howard Blas
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